1861 November 14 Camp near Centreville

My darling

It is commencing to rain this evening and
I must confess while really it subjects me to
very little inconvenience still it affects my
spirits and makes me feel more like being
with Jennie & our children--It presents an ar-
guement like this It is raining and I can
do nothing but stay under cover & keep dry
which would not only be a comfort but a real
pleasure if I could only select my company
& my quarters--but both of these being denied
to the soldier I must be content to take it
just as it comes--It is not yet four weeks
since I saw you and yet it seems longer
then that--How is it that you have managed
to so completely engage my whole heart--It
is now six years since we were married &
I love you not only as much but more than
I did the night when standing by my side
a young trembling but confiding girl, you
declared before the world that though every-
thing opposed you would love me through
life-Our courtship was not long and
was as pleasant & happy as a honeymoon
during the whole time we did not have
one single misunderstanding not a doubt of
each other--No one to oppose but all was
as bright & happy as a beautiful May mor-
ning--our path was strewn with flowers
Thus falsifying the old adage that
the course of true love never did run
smooth. Now I suppose it is nothing

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but right that we should now have our trou-
bles, which indeed are only troubles because we
have been so constantly together since our mar-
riage--I must confess that after nearly six
years of almost uninterrupted domestic life in
which the last thing at night was a kiss from
the sweetest girl on earth and the first thing
in the morning a repetition of the same hapy
luxury. I do now most measureably miss it
especially when that same dear good girl
is pining for the same thing--and to tell
the honest truth I dont feel one bit improved
by the gentle reminder in each of your
letters when you say oh for one "good night
kiss"--and then the horror of the thing
is that I find can see no end to it. The
future instead of growing brighter grows dark-
er, at least I cant see a single ray of light
now. My impression is that we are to en-
dure a hard winter & then go through
another harder campaign ef even than
the one just closing--well I suppose
you will not be very much oblidged to
me for this gloomy letter--My apology
is that I always write just as I am
in the humour and being this evening
in rather a gloomy frame of mind
my letter must take the same turn
and you must therefore excuse it.
I got no letter from you to day but
certainly expect one tomorrow. Let me
hear a good account of you--write
me a long happy letter

Love to Florence & the girls
affectionately
E T H Warren

[crosshatched on page 1]

Dont look for a
letter the day after
you get this

MSS 7786-g